Scottish Executive

Cancer

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the longest waiting times were for all forms of cancer in each NHS board in each of the last 10 years.

Malcolm Chisholm: Treatment for cancer can take place in either an out-patient or in-patient setting. Information is not held centrally on waiting times for treatment which starts in an out-patient setting – for example, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

  Information on the time between a patient being placed on the in-patient and day case waiting list and their admission to hospital is collected centrally. However, this dataset would not provide an accurate picture of the longest waiting times for patients placed on the waiting list with a diagnosis of cancer, because it will include patients who were admitted for treatment for conditions other than cancer and whose cancer was discovered in the course of that admission.

Crime

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted, or plans to conduct, a telephone survey of perceptions of crime levels and, if so, to whom it has awarded a contract for such a survey and whether it will publish the results.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is currently running the Scottish Crime and Victimisation Survey (SCVS), which is being carried out by computer assisted telephone interviewing. It was launched in June 2004 and will run continuously until March 2007. The SCVS was developed in response to a fundamental review of the Scottish Crime Survey, which was held every three to four years, to improve the reliability and usefulness of the data obtained. It asks questions about experiences and perceptions of crime to understand the true extent and nature of crime in Scotland. BMRB Social Research were awarded the contract for this work via competitive tender. Results of the survey will be published annually, with first results for interviews conducted in 2004-05 available in October 2005.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9921 by Mr Jim Wallace on 1 September 2004 regarding the Executive’s focus on competitiveness and in light of the IMD report, World Competitiveness Yearbook , and the Robert Higgins Associates Report, The European Competitiveness Index , on Scotland’s level of competitiveness and competitiveness gap with other nations and regions of Europe, what new specific steps it will take to improve Scottish competitiveness.

Mr Jim Wallace: The recently published Framework for Economic Development in Scotland  (FEDS) and the Background Analysis to FEDS set out in detail the Executive’s strategic approach and priorities for raising economic growth through increasing productivity and competitiveness.

  As outlined in FEDS, the Executive has put new emphases for promoting the competitiveness of the Scottish economy on the better management of public finances, on raising the environmental sustainability of economic development, on reversing the decline in the population and on the reform of the planning system.

  Specific steps to improve Scottish competitiveness include, among other things, the Efficient Government initiative, the consultation on the Green Jobs strategy, the Fresh Talent initiative and the consultations on the reform of the planning system and third-party right of appeal.

Economy

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage unemployment rate was in each year since 1999, calculated on the same basis as the World Health Organization’s European health for all database.

Mr Jim Wallace: The World Health Organization’s European health for all database uses the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition of unemployment and calculates the rate as the percentage of the economically active population.

  Table 1: ILO Unemployment Rate1 (Seasonally Adjusted), Scotland

  

 
Unemployment Rate (%)


Spring 1999
7.4


Spring 2000
7.6


Spring 2001
5.8


Spring 2002
6.9


Spring 2003
5.5


Spring 2004
6.1



  Source: Labour Force Survey.

  Notes: 1. Aged 16 and over.

Economy

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the labour force as a percentage of the population was in each year since 1999, calculated on the same basis as the World Health Organization’s European health for all database.

Mr Jim Wallace: The World Health Organization’s European health for all database defines the labour force as those who are economically active. The rate shown below is this total expressed as a percentage of the total population.

  Table 1: Labour Force as a Percentage of the Total Population (Seasonally Adjusted), Scotland

  

 
Labour Force as a Percentage of the Population


Spring 1999
48.9


Spring 2000
49.7


Spring 2001
49.8


Spring 2002
50.3


Spring 2003
50.7


Spring 2004
51.3



  Source: Labour Force Survey Spring Quarter.

Economy

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the gross (a) national and (b) domestic product was in each year since 1999, expressed in US dollars per capita and calculated on the same basis as the World Health Organization’s European health for all database.

Mr Jim Wallace: (a) Gross National Product is not available for Scotland.

  (b) Gross Domestic Product is not available for Scotland on this basis. However, an approximation can be calculated by applying Scotland’s ratio of UK GVA (Gross Value Added) per head to the figures published by WHO. This gives the following.

  

 
1999
2000
2001
2002


UK GDP per head ($US)
24,890
24,556
24,219
26,400


Scottish % of UK GVA per head
95.8
95.2
94.4
94.6


Estimated Scottish GDP per head ($US)
23,845
23,377
22,863
24,974



  Source: WHO European health for all database, ONS.

Enterprise

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial allocation it has made for science and research this year; what allocation was made in each of the last three years; what the projected sums are for the next three years and how much has been allocated for agricultural and biological research in each year, and what information it has on the amount spent in England and Wales on science and research in each of these years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The most recent comprehensive and comparable data on government funded science, engineering and technology expenditure is published by the DTI in The Forward Look 2003 and relevant extracts are given below. Plans for the next three years will be available in next year’s edition. The most recent science expenditure outturn data for the Scottish Executive’s Environment and Rural Affairs Department are £56.4 million in 2001-02 and £56.3 million in 2002-03. The latest estimates for 2003-04 and 2004-05 are £64.9 million and £65.2 million respectively.

  

£ Million
Outturn
2001-02
Estimated Outturn
2002-03
Plan
2003-04
Provisional Plans
2004-05


Scottish Executive  
 142.9
 150.4
 165.5
 169


National Assembly for Wales 
 36.5
 49.9
 46.4
 54


Whitehall Civil Departments1
1,578.3
1,807.0
1,945
1,660



  Notes: 1. Excludes expenditure by Ministry of Defence, UK Research Councils, Office of Science and Technology, devolved administrations and Northern Ireland departments.

Enterprise

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which New Futures projects have been recommended to secure mainstream funding by the New Futures Advisory Management Group and which such projects (a) have and (b) have not secured mainstream funding.

Lewis Macdonald: The enterprise networks are working with individual projects to raise awareness of new funding sources. To date, 20 projects advise they have secured some level of funding beyond 2005. Many others are currently involved in discussions with potential funders. This activity is led by the projects themselves - it is not the role of the Advisory Management Group to recommend individual projects for continued funding. More detailed information on funding at project level is an operational matter for the enterprise networks.

Food Standards

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the Wild Game Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 have on the economy.

Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the Wild Game Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 enact in the UK, with regard to the export trade, EU Directive 92/45/EEC which sets out requirements relating to the killing of wild game and the placing on the market of wild game meat.

  Game processing premises must be licensed under these regulations before they can export wild game meat to other EU member states or to third countries.

  Suitably licensed wild game processors can then compete in export markets and gain income from EU member states and third countries. They may also supply wild game meat to the UK domestic market if they wish.

  In Scotland there are currently 15 licensed wild game plants that can export meat to member states and third countries.

Food Standards

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate that different food hygiene regulations are applied to different markets supplied by game processors.

Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that game processors currently exporting wild game meat to other EU member states, or to third countries, must be licensed under the Wild Game Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995. If game processors currently only produce wild game meat for the domestic market then they are subject to local authority supervision under the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995.

  On 1 January 2006, these regulations will be revoked, and replaced by horizontal food hygiene legislation. These new rules, which aim to consolidate and simplify existing food hygiene legislation, will apply across the EU. All game processors involved in wholesaling operations will then be subject to the same requirements, regardless of the market that they are supplying.

Food Standards

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to standardise food hygiene regulations to ensure that food safety requirements do not disadvantage game processors whose businesses process in excess of 10,000 items per annum.

Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the current legislation governing wild game processing will be revoked, and replaced by horizontal food hygiene legislation on 1 January 2006. These new rules, which aim to consolidate and simplify existing food hygiene legislation, will apply across the EU. All game processors involved in wholesaling operations will then be subject to the same requirements, regardless of the market that they are supplying.

  Certain exemptions are made from the new legislation whereby member states are required to set national rules to cover the direct supply, by the producer of small quantities of wild game and wild game meat to the final consumer or to local retail establishments directly supplying the final consumer. These exemptions are made in recognition of the close relationships that can exist between producers and consumers. The EU legislation requires that national rules must be in place in relation to these exemptions to achieve the objectives of the EU regulations, and the FSA intends that the hygiene provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 will apply.

Food Standards

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure traceability of all game products irrespective of numbers processed.

Tom McCabe: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that there is currently no requirement for traceability in the hygiene legislation for the wild game sector, although game dealers must be licensed under the Game Acts and maintain certain records in accordance with the Deer Acts. However, new legislation to implement the EU General Food Law Regulation (EC 178/2002) that will apply from 1 January 2005 will require all food businesses, regardless of size, to implement traceability systems. Food businesses will be required to keep records of their suppliers and businesses they supply to, and make such records available to the competent authorities on demand. This legislation will apply to food businesses involved in the supply of wild game.

  Whilst not yet a legal requirement under hygiene legislation, many wild game processors currently have traceability systems in place that apply from the time that an animal is shot.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which areas have a surplus of housing and what action is being taken to regenerate these areas in order to utilise existing stock.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to reply. Her response is as follows:

  The Executive has been conducting a wide-ranging review of affordable housing in Scotland. As part of this review Communities Scotland commissioned Heriot-Watt University to provide estimates of the need for additional affordable housing at both local authority and housing market area level. The research Local housing need and affordability model for Scotland – Update, was published in July 2004 and is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 33842). It identifies the following local authorities as having a surplus of social lettings:

  Surplus by Local Authority, 2003 (Number of Household/Dwelling Units Per Year)

  

Local Authority
Surplus


Aberdeen City
735


Angus
160


Clackmannanshire
135


Dundee City
915


East Ayrshire
405


Falkirk
455


Fife
585


City of Glasgow
3,020


Inverclyde
355


North Ayrshire
235


North Lanarkshire
140


Renfrewshire
280


Scottish Borders
305


Shetland Islands
50


West Dunbartonshire
900


West Lothian
105



  Communities Scotland’s housing investment programme makes a significant contribution to restructuring the housing supply, as part of regeneration strategies. In 2004-05, we will invest over £540 million in housing and regeneration. Housing investment will total £284 million which will help to build or improve 5,350 homes and which is expected to generate nearly £130 million of investment from the private sector. Local authorities have also prepared local housing strategies which set out how they will work with other agencies to address their housing needs and to ensure that the supply and quality of housing meets local requirements over the next five years.

Justice

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to ensure that victims are kept informed of the progress of their cases in the event of adjournment due to the ill-health of the accused.

Colin Boyd QC: In recognition of the duties which the prosecution service owes to victims and witnesses, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has established a dedicated victim service – Victim Information and Advice (VIA) which will be rolled out across the whole of Scotland by the end of 2005. One of the aims of VIA is to keep victims and bereaved next of kin informed about the progress of the case that affects them. VIA officers provide information pro-actively in cases which fall within its referral categories.

  If the case is to be adjourned due to the ill health of the accused, it may not always be possible to provide specific information about the nature of the illness affecting the accused, but victims will be alerted to any proposed adjournment and provided with information about when the case will next call at court.

Meat Industry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under its proposals for a beef national envelope, it will impose any retention period on those calves on which subsidies will be paid and, if so, what that period will be and when details will be communicated to farmers.

Ross Finnie: The Executive is currently consulting on appropriate qualifying criteria. There are no plans for a forward retention period. However, the department is likely to require calves to reach a certain age - probably 30 days - to ensure that those receiving payment will enter the food chain. Stakeholders have been informed on the details of the qualifying criteria.

National Health Service

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration was given to patient need when guidance was issued to NHS boards on the planning of out-of-hours treatment.

Malcolm Chisholm: The proposals which NHS boards are currently developing focus on clinical safety and governance. Both locally and nationally, service plans have been developed in consultation with all appropriate agencies to ensure that patients needs are accommodated. The new arrangements must also meet the mandatory accreditation standards set to ensure a safe and quality service for patients.

  As part of the new contract implementation process, a national working group has been set up to look at the issues around out-of-hours across Scotland. The group includes representation from NHS systems, the Scottish Ambulance Service, NHS24 and patient representatives. The aim of the group is to identify alternative schemes and produce models of best practice which are available for use by NHS boards.

People with Disabilities

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is provided to facilitate a greater degree of independence in the lives of visually impaired people.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is doing a number of things to help visually impaired people:

  it launched an Eye Care Review in March to improve the services for blind and partially sighted people in Scotland and to promote better integration of services within the NHS, and between the NHS and other agencies;

  it is implementing the seven recommendations on improving community care services for people with sensory impairment contained in the Sensory Impairment Action Plan which was launched in January, and

  it is considering the recommendations of the Strategy Forum: Equipment and Adaptations report, Equipped for Inclusion.

People with Disabilities

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support financially the provision of visual aids, such as pocket text readers and other technological equipment, that would facilitate a greater degree of independence in the lives of visually impaired people.

Mr Tom McCabe: It is the responsibility of local authorities to assess the needs of individuals and commission services to meet those needs.

People with Disabilities

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out regarding the levels of financial support available from other European governments to enable visually impaired people to acquire visual aids such as pocket text readers and other technological equipment.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has not carried out any research into this issue as it is the responsibility of local authorities to assess the needs of individuals and commission services to meet those needs.

Public Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any increase in fuel tax in September will lead to an increase in the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG); if not, when consideration will be given to an increase in the BSOG, and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Nicol Stephen: The rate of Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) paid to operators will be reviewed in the light of any changes to fuel duty. The aim of BSOG is to maintain or increase the number of kilometres run by local services and for any requirement for fares increases to be mitigated.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change the structure of the Rail Passengers Committee Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: The UK White Paper The Future of Rail proposes the abolition of the Rail Passenger Council regional committees, retaining the council as a single national body. This is a matter for the UK Government. Scottish ministers will be able to appoint a member to the council and also to reflect the devolution of greater rail powers to Scotland. To ensure that Scottish passengers continue to be fully represented, we are presently considering additional arrangements for passenger representation in Scotland.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations or submissions it has made to the Department for Transport’s consultation on the review of the rail industry; whether it will publish such submissions, and whether it sought additional powers in respect of the rail industry and, if so, in what areas.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive fully engaged in the review of the rail industry process, working jointly with the Department for Transport on proposals as they related to the devolution of rail powers to Scotland.

  The UK Government intends that the tasks of planning, specifying, letting (including signing), managing and financing the contract for services operating under the existing Scottish passenger rail franchise and any other Scotland-specific franchise will in future fall to the Scottish Executive. In addition, under the proposals the Scottish Executive would specify network outputs and finance Scottish infrastructure costs.

  These changes have been agreed in principle, subject to a fair and appropriate transfer of funding to the Scottish Executive for the additional responsibilities.

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what budgets are in place for the next three years to install graded junctions on the A90 in Aberdeenshire.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive is currently considering the detailed design for a proposed new grade separated interchange at Schoolhill, Portlethen as part of a major residential development. The construction of the junction will be at the developer’s expense.

  The Executive is also carrying out a comprehensive study into the safety of at grade junctions on dual carriageways. Laurencekirk will be specifically considered within this study.

Student Finance

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to Scottish students who accept places at English universities.

Mr Jim Wallace: Details of the support available to Scottish students who accept places at English Universities are available from the Student Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) website: www.saas.gov.uk .

Student Finance

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what reciprocal agreements are in place for support for Scottish students at universities in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Mr Jim Wallace: Scottish domiciled students undertaking a full-time degree course in nursing, midwifery or one of the Allied Health Professions at a University in Wales or Northern Ireland can apply to the relevant funding body in those countries for support with tuition fee and living costs through the Department of Health Bursary Scheme. Welsh or Northern Irish students undertaking such courses in Scotland apply through the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

  Students from any of the UK home nations are eligible to apply for assistance from the discretionary funds administered by universities in each country (Access to Learning Funds in England and Wales, Support Funds in Northern Ireland and Hardship Funds in Scotland).

Victim Support

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the activities of the Victim Information and Advice service.

Colin Boyd QC: Victim Information and Advice (VIA) is part of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The Director of VIA reports directly to the Crown Agent. As is the case of other divisions of the department VIA’s performance is monitored by the senior management of the department.

Victim Support

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people benefited from the support offered by the Victim Information and Advice service in the last year.

Colin Boyd QC: For the period April 2003 to March 2004, Victim Information and Advice offered a service to 18,447 victims, witnesses and bereaved next of kin, by comparison with 10,356 the previous year.